Hard hot tub cover or foam cover: what is the difference?
A hard hot tub cover and a foam cover differ in what happens in rain and snowmelt. A foam cover can soak up water, which makes it heavy. The One Model's Smartop Upright 3.0 hard cover does not absorb water, and its built-in hydraulic lift opens it with one hand.
What is the difference between a hard cover and a foam cover?
A foam cover can soak up rain and snowmelt. That makes it heavy, and it lets more heat out.
The One Model's Smartop Upright 3.0 is a hard cover that does not absorb water, so it stays light and keeps holding the heat in. It also has a built-in hydraulic lift, so one person can open it with one hand.
Weight matters because you lift the cover every time you soak. A cover that has soaked up water is heavy to lift. The One Model's lift is built into the cover, so one person raises it alone.
Why does a hot tub need a cover at all?
The King County public health hot tub guide, from Seattle and King County in Washington, says a floating cover reduces water evaporation and helps keep the water temperature. It adds that a well-fitting cover keeps dust and debris out of the water.
The same guide says that outdoors, a floating cover can be used together with a hard cover to further reduce water and heat loss.
How does the One Model handle the cover?
The One Model comes with the Smartop Upright 3.0 hard cover by Leisure Concepts. It is included in the price of $19,995 CAD, along with delivery to your pad, the water-care system and the app. Steps and handrails cost extra. You do not pay separately for the cover or for its lift.
The cover measures 89 by 89 inches, slightly larger than the 86 by 86 inch acrylic shell it sits on. It is UL certified to ASTM F1346-91, the safety standard for pool and hot tub covers.
Do you need a hot tub cover lifter?
People often search for a hot tub cover lifter. The One Model's hydraulic lift is built into the cover, so you do not need to buy a lifter and fit it yourself.
The lift means one person can open the cover alone. You raise it with one hand. At a test soak, lift the cover yourself and see how it feels.
How long does a hot tub cover last?
Good Hot Tubs has not released a lifespan for the cover yet. What you can compare today is how each cover behaves. A cover that absorbs water gets heavy, and a cover that does not absorb water stays light.
Ask any seller what the warranty says about the cover, in writing, and ask the reason behind any lifespan a seller quotes.
You can also compare how each cover is built: whether it is a hard cover, whether it absorbs water and which standard it meets. The One Model's Smartop Upright 3.0 is a hard cover that does not absorb water, and it is UL certified to ASTM F1346-91. Cover and cabinet work together on the One Model, since the cabinet walls are insulated and the cover holds the heat in from the top.
What should you check on any hot tub cover?
The same few questions work for any cover, whoever makes it. Put them to the seller before you order, and ask to see the cover on a tub and lift it.
- Does the cover absorb water, and what happens to it after a wet winter?
- Can one person open and close it, and is there a built-in lift?
- Does it carry a safety certification, such as ASTM F1346-91?
- What does the warranty say about the cover, in writing?
- Is it included in the price, or is it extra?
Who do you contact if a cover needs attention on the Island?
Contact Good Hot Tubs. Under warranty, Good Hot Tubs arranges the repair. A local expert on Vancouver Island delivers, sets up and services the One Model, and you book the yearly check-up with that expert.
You can also sit in a One Model with its cover before you buy. One is set up and running on the Island for test soaks, and the team arranges a time with you when you send your result.
Questions
Does a hard hot tub cover absorb water?
The One Model's Smartop Upright 3.0 hard cover does not absorb water, so it stays light and keeps holding the heat in.
How much does a hot tub cover lifter cost?
On the One Model you do not buy one. The Smartop Upright 3.0 has a built-in hydraulic lift and is included in the price of $19,995 CAD.
Does a hot tub cover reduce evaporation?
The King County guide says a floating cover reduces water evaporation and helps keep the water temperature. A well-fitting cover also keeps dust and debris out.
Why does a foam hot tub cover get heavy?
A foam cover can soak up rain and snowmelt, which makes it heavy and lets more heat out. The One Model's hard cover does not absorb water and stays light.
What size is the One Model's cover?
The Smartop Upright 3.0 measures 89 by 89 inches. The acrylic shell it covers is 86 by 86 inches.
Sources
General facts on this page come from these public sources. Facts about the One Model come from Good Hot Tubs.
- Staying Happy and Healthy in Your Hot Tub, sixth edition (PDF). Public Health, Seattle and King County.
Related answers
Is the One Model right for you?
Ten questions about your home and how you would use a hot tub. You see your result before you give any contact details, and you can ask for a test soak on Vancouver Island when you send it.